Trump games the media like a master

MONTGOMERY VILLAGE, MD., September 16, 2016 – Today Donald Trump pulled one of the most innovative feats of his campaign. He was able to capture the attention of all the corporate media for over 30 minutes without providing anything in return.

This happened during what was announced as a press conference in the newly renovated Trump Hotel, located in the iconic Post Office building on Pennsylvania Avenue, right down the street from the White House.

By the time the whole episode was over, talking heads all over the country still didn’t know or would admit they had been had. Can our seasoned reporters be that naïve? No, they were just trying to save face.

A review of news about Trump’s appearance reveals that the media still “believes” that Trump’s 33 second statement that Barrack Obama had been born in the US was actually “news”.

True to his ego, Trump first took the opportunity to promote his new hotel.

In his self-serving statement, Trump put all the blame for the birthing controversy on his rival, Hillary Clinton. He also claimed that he had actually diffused the controversy by forcing Obama to release his birth certificate.

The event started with a number of former military men standing on the speakers’ platform. The first to be introduced were two Medal of Honor winners that support Trump. To follow were a number of other military men, some of which had received medals and commendations for a number of wars.

Mostly these were general officers some of whom had never seen actual combat. They all were there to show their support for Trump and to repeat the mantra that he will “make America great again”.

Ironically they were all there to support a “heel-spur deferment” candidate.

In the case of CNN, and probably all the other corporate media outlets present, it was Sophie’s Choice once they realized the scheme they had been drawn into. Leave the live coverage and return to regular programming until Trump took the stage, or stay put and see if any real news would come out of the parody.

In the case of at least CNN, they chose the latter. The media is doing anything to not be seen as the bias, liberal organization the Right has gotten so many miles from. Also leaving the coverage of several “heroes” that support Trump would not have been good press (NPI).

At the end of Trump’s statement, he left the stage to the chorus of “USA, USA,…” without taking questions despite the labeling of the event as a press conference. However Trump had once again gamed the media and the American public by turning the news cameras on himself, and his newest acquisition.

PT Barnum would have been proud of this event.

There is no doubt of Trump’s (and his advisors) ability to manipulate the media.

All the polls point to a Tump’s resurgence, especially in key states. Will the American public accept gamesmanship as leadership?

This political season is like watching a Quentin Tarantino movie. When one thinks the most bizarre thing just happened a new one much more bizarre occurs.

Mario Salazar, the 21st Century Pacifist, is always analyzing the news for tidbits like this. He is in Twitter (@chibcharus), Google+, LinkedIn and Facebook (Mario Salazar).

Mario Salazar is a combat infantry Vietnam Vet, world traveler, renaissance reconnaissance man, pacifist, metal smith, glass artisan, computer programmer and he has a Master of Science in Civil/Environmental Engineering. Now retired from the Environmental Protection Agency and living in Montgomery County, Mario will share with you his life, his thoughts, his musing on living in yet another century of change. He will also try to convey his joy of being old.